Pencil



A: O. BEISANG` PENCIL May 3, 1938.

Filed Aug. 13, 1936 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Aurea o. Belang,

Brown tion of PENCIL St. Paul, Minn., assigner to Bigelow, St. PauLMinn., a c0110?!- Mlnnelota Application August 13, 1936, Serial No. 95,816 s ein, (ci. 1z0-1s) My invention .relates to an improvement in pencils. and-more particularly to a'mechanical pencil of an extremely simple type wherein only a few parts are required. Afeature resides in a flexible spiral driver which is operated by the head of the pencil, and a spring locking sleeve holds the driver in operating position.

Many pencils have been made which operate mechanically by rotating one vportion of the pencil with respect to the other-to expel or repel the lead. Most of these pencils, however, are provided with `quite a number of parts, thus increasing the cost of manufacture. While simple mechanical pencils have been previously manufactured, most of these simple mechanical pencils omit some important function in the operation of the pencil when constructed. In other words, the simplication of the construction has been made by leaving oil.' some of the functions of 'operation of the more complicated constructions.

Itis the object of the' present invention to provide a pencil with an outer casing which may be made ofy metal or non-metallic material, and wherein a lead pusher and carrier of a unique design is provided having spring bowed portions which are adapted to friction'ally engage inthe casing to prevent rotation lof the carrier while the flexible spiral driving member is adapted to be rotated to operate the spring lead carrier to propel or repel the lead in the pencil.

It is al feature of my invention that when removed from the outer pencil. shell or casing,

the lead propelling mechanism, if held in a vertical position, will cause the spring` lead carrier to rotate to twirl from one end to the other of the spiral driving member to permit the removal or replacement of lead therein. "I'he lead propeiling mechanism comprises a tube having a helical slot therein, and a lead carrier interwoven through the spiral slot of the tube havingl `a lead carrying end positioned axially in the tube. I'he lead carrying end is provided with a slidable sleeve for engaging the lead, so that the lead tion, it extendsvbeyond the end of the tube. where the lead may be quickly Aand readily removed or replaced. When a new lead has been inserted in the sleeve on the/end of the lead carrier,

` f the tube may be held Vwith the lower end uppermost. The lead carrier will-then freely rotate to the other end of the tube, drawing the lead into the tube, before inserting the tube into the outer shell of the pencil, thus protecting the lead within the spirally slotted tube.

It is a feature of my invention to provide a lead carrier having means thereon extending out of the tube through the helical slot and into engagement with the inner walls of the outer shell of the pencil, to provide friction to prevent rotation of the lead carrier with the tube. A spring tension is provided against the walls of the tube which is sumcient to resist rotation of the lead carrierwhen the tube is rotated.

It is a further feature `of my invention to provide a pencil which will not permit breaking of the lead by longitudinal pressure on the lead. The lead operating mechanism of the pencil is supported in the outer shell of the pencil by a friction means sufficient to hold the lead operating mechanism in place under ordinary writing pres- 20 sures on the lead. If, however, too great a strainr is placed longitudinally on the lead, the lead operating mechanism containing the lead will be forced upwardly with respect to the outer pencil shell, thus preventing the breakage of lead. 'l'.'his 25 releasing means of the lead operating mecha.-` nism prevents damage to the lead as well as the l operating mechanism by reason of the releasing of the spirally -slottedtube when too great pressure is exerted against either the writing lead, or the lead carrier is driven to the front or writing end of the pencil and cannot be driven further. i

.These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more' clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specication:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my pencil, in enlarged form. *'40 Figure 2 is an elevation view of or casing of my pencil. e l,

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the tube having the helical slot therein, mounted on'the head end of Athe pencil. ,1 'A

Figure 4 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the lead actuating carrier adapted to be operated within the tube of Figure 3.

Figure o is a cross-sectional view on the lineA 5-,5 of Figure 1. 1l y My pencil A is provided with an outer shell l0, tubular in shape, and tapering to a point ll at the lower end thereof. I'o the shell I0 is attached a pocket clip l2, having a pocket engaging rounded end Il supported by a spring arm 55 the outer shell shell III, and is concentric with the shell I3. The` upper extremity of the head I1 is hollowed out at I8 to accommodate the eraser I3. I'he lower portion 23 of the head I1 nts within the shell I0, and is of slightly smaller'diameter than the inside of the shell III. An annular groove 22 is formed in the lower portion of the head I1, intermediate the ends of the lower portion 2li.

A split spring ring 23 is mounted in the annular groove 22. This ring is normally of slightly larger diameter than the inner diameter of the shell I0, but is formed of spring material, and readily contracts slightly upon pressure to slide within the shell III. 'I'he outer surface of the ring 23 is tapered as shown at 24, to permit this ring to slide readily into the end of the shell I0. 'I'he head I1 is accordingly held in the upper end of the shell I Il under spring tension, the ring 23 impcding longitudinal movement of the head I1 with respect to the shell I0. As the ring 23 rotates readily within the groove 22, the rotary movement is not impaired by the friction ring 23.

The lower portion 25 of the head I1 is longitudinally drilled to accommodate the end of al tubular member 25. 'Ihe tube 25 is wedged into the drilled opening, so that the tube 25 will rotate as an integral part of the head I1. 'I'he tube 25 is formed of a strip wound in helical form, providing a helical slot or groove 25 between successive convolutions. 'I'he tube'- 25 extends to a point near the lower tapered end II of the shell I0, and preferably contacts the inner wall of the tapered portion to hold the tube in proper position within the shell Il.

A spring wire lead carrier 21 is provided within the tube 25 for actuating the lead. A `sleeve 28 having a slot 29 in one side thereof surrounds, and extends beyond, the lower end of this lead carrier 21. A projection 38 on the vlead carrier 21 near the lower end thereof extends through this slot 29, and holds the sleeve slidable on the lower end of the lead carrier 21. A second projection 32 on the lead carrier 21 limits-the sliding movement of the sleeve 23, permitting the sleeve to slide until the lead carrier extends from one end to the other of the sleeve.

'I'he lead carrier 21 is bent at substantially right angles to the axis thereof to provide an arm 33 extending through the slot 25 in the tube 25. The lead carrier 21 is then bent to provide a slightly bowed spring portion 34 engageable with the inner wall of the outer shell I0. An arm 35 `att-substantially right angles to the axis of the lead carrier extends through the slot 26 at a point spaced above the arm 33, entering the tube 25. An axially aligned portion 35 extends-to a point adjacent the arm 33, where an arm 31 extends through the slot 26 in a direction opposite to that of the arm 33. The arm 31 supports a spring bowed portion 33, which engages the inner wall of the shell III on the side thereof opposite the engagement of the portion 34 of the lead carrier, balancing the engagement of the lead carrier in vtheshell or casing I3 of the pencil,

It will be seen that the formation of the lead carrier 21 is such as to provide a pair of resiliently supported portions 34 and 33 frictionally engaging the inner wall of the shell Il under spring tension. The long longitudinal engagement will resist the tendency for the lead carrier 21 to rotate with the tube 25. The lead carrier 21 is much more resistant to rotary movement than to longitudinal movement, making it a comparatively simple matter for the lead carrier to move longitudinally when the tube 25 is rotated.

'I'he operation of the pencil is believed clear from the description. 'I'he lead is fed through the lead opening 33 in the point II of the tapered portion of the pencil by 'rotating the head I1 in one direction. The rotation of the head I1 acts to rotate the tube 25. Rotation of the tube 25 moves the plunger downwardly in the shell III, the edge of the slot 25 engaging the arms 33, 35 and 31, and acting as a cam to urge the lead carrier 21 downwardly. 'I'he lead carrier 21 is kept from rotation by the engagement of the portions 34 and 38 of the lead carrier against the inner wall of the shell I0.

When the lead carrier moves sufilciently, the

lower end of the sleeve 28 engages the inner tapered wall of the shell. Further movement of the lead carrier 21 downwardly will move the l lead carrier relative to the sleeve 28 until the sleeve 28 is entirelydisengaged from the lead 40 of the pencil.

'I'he angle of the groove 25 in the tube 25 is such that when the tube l25 is removed from the shell I0, the plunger will move toward one end or the other of the tube when the tube 25 is held vertically. The weight of the lead carrier 21 is sulclent to cause the same to freely twirl downwardlyin the slot 25. Thus, after a new lead has been inserted in the sleeve 23, the tube may be held vertically with the head I1 down, and the .lead carrier will move toward the head until the lead is entirelyl enclosed within the tube 25, or virtually so.

As the friction of the sleeve or ring 23 is all that holds the lead operating mechanism in the shell III, it may be seen that abnormal longitudinal pressure on the lead. will act to force the ring out of the shell I8thus preventing the breakage of lead when too great a longitudinal pressure is exerted against the same. It will also be noted that the lead operating mechanism may at any time be withdrawn from the shell I8 Aby a longitudinal pull on the head I1.

In accordance with thepatent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my pencil; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understoodthat this is only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made .within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

vI claim:

l. A pencil comprising an outer casing, a head engageable in one end of said casing for rotation, a tapered writing end on the other end lof said casing, a tubular spirally slotted. member extending intoI said casing and secured to said head to be operated by the same, and a spring Wire lead carrier formed from a single piece of wire having a lead carrying end extending axially in said slotted tube and an axially disposed portion spaced from the lead carrier end and having oppositely disposed spring arms for engaging in the casing to prevent rotation of the lead carrier but permitting longitudinal sliding of the same in the c a'sing when the spirally slotted tubular lmember is operated by said head.

anales 2. A pencil comprising an outer shell'having a writing end formed on one end thereof. a cylindrical opening in the' other end thereof, and

'a lead operating mechanism including a head adapted to support an eraser to close said opening, a collar portion formed on said head having an annular recess, a spring collar freely disposed in said recess, a spirally slotted iiexible tube secured axially in said collar portion of said head and extending into the major portion oi' the writing tip of said casing, and a spring lead carrier interwoven into the spiral slots of said tube having axiallydisposed portions with a lead carrying sleeve on one of said portions, variel oppositely disposed spring shell engaging portions.

`3. A pencil comprising an outer shell or casing, a head rotatably mounted on one end thereof, a tubular member secured to said head for rotation thereby, a helical slot formed in said tubular member, a spring lead carrier having portions axially disposedr in said tubular member, and spring arm portions extending through said slot from said axial portions and adapted to engage with said shell to prevent rotation of said lead carrier, and a slidable lead receiving socket on one of said axially disposed portions df said lead carrier.

4. A pencil comprising an outer shell having a cylindrical inner wall surface. a tubular member rotatably mounted in said shell, said tubular member having a helical slot, a member for suphelical slot formed in said tubular member, a

unitary spring lead carrier having portions extending longitudinally within said tubular member, and spring arms formed on said lead carrier extending through said slot into resilient engagelnent with the inner wall of said shell at oppositely 'disposed points.

said plunger with respect` tol 6. A pencil including an outer casing, a ilexible tubular helically slotted rotatably mounted memberY extending approximately through said entire outer casing axially` disposed therein, a unitary lead operating spring wire member having axially disposed portions extending longitudinally in said tubular member, and a plurality of spring arm portions slidable and longitudinally engageable at angularly spaced points with the inner portion of said casing to prevent rotation of said lead carrier, and a slidable lead socket supported on the front end of said lead carrier.

7. A pencil including an outer casing, a tubular helical guide rotatably mounted in said shell casing, a lead carrier in said guide, means on said lead carrier extending through'said helical guide at different points and provided with spring means for engaging said casing under spring tension to prevent rotation and to permit longitl dinal sliding oi' said lead carrierlin said casing, and a lead receiving sleeve slidably secured to said lead carrier, whereby said lead carrier may be operated by said helical guide when said guide is rotated to propel and repel a lead in said pencil.

8. A pencil including a writing tip, a lead propelling and carrying means including an operating head, a rotatable locking sleeve, a helically slotted tubular member secured .to said head, and a spring wire leadV carrier having a slidable lead receiving socket thereon, said lead carrier having spaced apart axially disposed and longitudinally extending portions for guiding said carrier, and spring means connecting said axially disposed portions for engaging within the casing to hold the lead carrier against the rotation.

9. A pencil having a removable lead propelling 'mechanism, a casing for receiving said mechacarried on one oi' said axially disposed portions 45 of said lead carrier.

- vAlill'ltlslD O. B'EISANG. 

